Ruling on a FOIA lawsuit brought by a public advocacy group, a federal judge has ordered disclosure of documents that back up EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s public statements with regard to climate change that he made on CNBC last year. The EPA must provide the documents by July 2 or else an explanation by July 11 why they have not been provided.

This case reminds us that facts matter and that public officials have an obligation to be factual in their communications.

“When the head of an agency makes a public statement that appears to contradict ‘the published research and conclusions of’ that agency, the FOIA provides a valuable tool for citizens… Compliance with such a request would help ‘ensure an informed citizenry, vital to the functioning of a democratic society.’” — Judge Beryl A. Howell